Moistening device



Oct. 22, 1929. T, R, GAUTlER 1,732,638

MOISTENING DEVI CE Filed Dec, 5, 1924 `2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct.n 22 1929., T. R. GAUTIER MOISTENNG DEVICE Filed DGO. 5, 1924 2 SheetS-Sheet m w. Mw @n Wr@ mgm Patented Oct. 22', 119,29

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcEV TREVOB R. GAUTIER, NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 NASHUA. GUMMED & COATED .PAPER COMPANY, OF NASHUA, NEW HAIVLPSHIRE, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS MOISTENING DEVICE Application filed. December 5, 1924. Serial No. 754,125.

My invention aims to provide an improved moistening mechanism or device for moistening adhesive or gummed stickers, labels, sealing tape or other strip material, and while of general use in such connection, it is more particularly related to strip serving and like machines. As t0 certain common subject matter this application is a continuation of my copendingapplications Serial No. 643,907,

4filed June 7, 1923, and Serial No. 714,592, filed May 20, 1924, now Patents Nos. 1,540,724 and 1,568,506 respectively.

lin the accompanying drawings disclosing certain illustrative embodiments of my invention: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a strip serving machine with which the moistening device of my invention may be employed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical'longitudinal section through the forward part of the machine of Fig. l, the cover being removed;

F ig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the moistening mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section upon the line 4 4 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively longitudinal and transverse vertical sections through a modified type of moistener embqtlying one form of. my invention. 1","

My invention, certain embodiments of which are herein disclosed, is of general use for moistening adhesive o r gummed strips such as labels, stickers, sealing tape or other strip material and is not restricted to use With strip serving or like machines of any particular type. While in certain instances the moistening device herein disclosed may be useful apart from other apparatus, the strip to be moistened being passed through it manually, it particularly cooperates with machines for serving strips of adhesive tape f and herein is illustrated in that connection.

y saidt pe.

indicated at l, comprising opposite side castings suitably connected as by tie members, one of which is indicated at 2 in Fig. 2. Desirably the housing is provided with feet 4 preferably rubber shod, as indicated at 5.

The supply or roll 6 of gummed or adhesive strip material such as tape is received within the rear portion of the housing between its side walls. Although my invention is applicable to use with ungummed strips fed from a supply past a suitable gum or adhesive applying device, desirably the strip of material to be moistened is previously gummed. The strip may be of any suitable width and the strip roll 6 isheld in proper position for feeding by any suitable. means, preferably such asv disclosed in'my said c0- pending applications, including a plate engageable with the side face of vthe roll and carried by a spindle 8 adjustably extending through a boss 10 in the wall of the housing.

While any suitable form of feeding means may be employed I have herein disclosed means similar to that of my said copending applications, with which my moistener particularly cooperates. Referring to Fig. 1, a feed lever 15 is pivote'd at 16 upon a hub projecting from the housing, a spring 17 tending to maintain said lever in its raised position substantially as shown. At its forward end said lever is provided with afinger piece 18 and is guided for vertical movement vin a slotted member 19, the slot of said member being of suicient length to permit the full movement of the lever desired in feed' ing a maximum length of strip or tape.. The length of strip to be fed may be regulated, said guide 19 being formed with a plurality of notches 20, 20 any one of which is adapted to receive the stop member 21, the lower end of which projects into the path of the lever 15 to limit its downward movement. In addition, a lever lock and automatic release may be provided if desired, such as fully shown and described in my said copending application, now Patent No. 1,568,506, Whereby the operative may draw off any desired length of strip in excess of that normally fed by the maximum movement of the feed lever.

Said lever 15 carries a rack 23 meshing with a pinion 24 on the adjacent end of the shaft 25 of the feed roll 26 (see also Fig. 2). Desirably the construction is such as to permit a slight non-feeding downward movement of the lever from its top position, any suitable lost motion or like connection between the lever and feed roll being provided for this purpose, but preferably as disclosed in my said copending applications.

Forward of the feed roll 26 strip severing means is provided desirably of the same general type and construction as shown in my said copending applications and not necessary herein to describe in detail. Such severlng means includes a fixed blade 49 and a movable blade 50 adapted to be operated by the upward or return movement of the feed lever 15 and cooperating with the fixed blade to sever the strip. Y

Cooperating with the feed roll 26 is a roll 54 mounted in suitable bearings in the side walls of the machine, said roll desirably being vertically yielding and acting to hold the tape ori-strip in contact with said feed roll. The strip is guided from its initial position in the roll or package 6 as by means of a thin, springy metal strip or guide 58. The lower end of said guide underlies the portion of the housing in which saidy roll is received. Said lguide extends upwardly over the feed roll 26, being longitudinally slotted' and resting in circumferential gropves in said roll, thus being sufliciently depressed to permit the strip to make contact with the surface of said feed roll. Said guide 58 extends forwardly so as to conduct the strip between the severlng blades, terminating in a downwardly bent portion just to the rear of the latter.

Intermediate the fixed blade 49 and the roll 54 is a metallic member 55 of substantially the length of the rolls 26 and 54, positioned between the side walls of the housing. One face of saidmember 55 is straight to conform to the adjacent face of the blade 49 while the opposite face is curved to correspond generally to the curvature of the roll 54. Said member 55 rests upon the guide 58, fitting snugly in positionbut is readily removable. It is of sufficient weight to hold the strip down and direct it between the severing blades 49, 50, in the manner fully described in my .said copending ap lication, now Patent No. 1,568,506. Desirably a removable cover 59 is provided for the feeding and severing portions of the mechanism.

The moistening device which, as above stated, -is adapted for general use and is not limited to use in strip serving machines of any particular type, includes a receptacle or reservoir 60 adapted vto .receive a supply of moistening fluid. Said reservoir and attached parts of the moistening device may be removed from the machine as a nnit, it being provided with lateral guides or flanges 61, 62

`and said plate. The brush,

which are received upon ribs 63 upon the in'- ner faces of the opposite side walls of the machine housing, one such rib being clearly seen in Fig. 2. The reservoir may thus readily be placed in its position upon the machine or removed therefrom.

The moistening element herein consists of a reversed or inverted brush 64 positioned in the reservoir with the free or moisture-applying ends 65 of its bristles extending upwardly above the level of the liquid and the lower portions of the bristles and the back 66 of the brush submerged therein. The brush or brushes, if more than one be employed, may be positioned at any desired point longitudinally of the reservoir, that is, along the path of the strip to be moistened. In some instances it is desirable to place the brush at the forward end of the reservoir, as shown for example in Figs. 5 and 6. At other times, particularly where strips of short length are to be fed, moistened and cut, it is desirable to have the moistening element closely adjacent the severing means, as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive. A brush moistener, such as disclosed, may be effectively positioned closer to the severing blades than can a moistener of the roller ty e.

The strip, tape, label or the like is fed past the severing device and across the upper or moistening end 65 of said brush 64. -Directly above the brush there is fixedly positioned a stationary guide member or plate 67 extending transversely of the reservoir and, in the form of Figs. 2-4, secured 1as by means of screws to the lugs 68, 69 projecting upwardly from the opposite sidewalls of the reservoir.

The brush is supported in the reservoir for vertical movement, being yieldinfrly held in position with the moistening ends 65 of the bristles normally in contact with the lower face of said stationary plate 67. As shown in Figs. 2-4 the back 66 of the brush rests on a spring 70. The brush is guided at its opposite sides between vertical ribs 71 formed upon the inner faces of the opposite side walls of the reservoir, said spring also being retained in its position beneath the brush by said ribs. The spring and brush may both be readily removed from the reservoir or dropped into their described position, in which the water or other moistening fluid in the reservoir will be conducted by capillary attraction upwardly along the hairs or bristles o'f the brush.

The strip is fed past the severing mechanism and between the ends 6 5 of the bristles and the stationary plate 67, the edge of said plate toward" the severing blades being upwardly deflected as at 72 and the reservoir being desirably provided with a lip 73 for guiding the strip to and between the brush being yieldingly supported, readily lpermits the tape to pass in contact therewith and at the same time deposits thedesired amount ofmoisture uniformly over the gummed surface of the strip.

The reservoir preferably is covered by the removable plate or cover 74 having depending ianges 75, 76 respectivelyreceived by lateral ribs 77, 78 upon the reservoir, said cover forming a guide for the moistened strip. Preferably the portion of said cover adjacent the brush terminates within the side walls of the reservoir to form a slightly springy lip 79. If the moistening device described is to be used apart from the feeding and severing mechanism and the strip fed manually across the brush the direction of feed may be reversed and said lip 7 9l will assistin guiding the forward edge of the' strip to and between the brush and the stationary plate. IThe construction of the moistening device may be and as illustrated is such-that it may be inserted either end foremost in the strip serving machine, thereby varying the position of the moistening` element or brush with respect to the severing` means.

ln Figs. 5 and 6 l have illustrated a modified form of yielding support for the meistening element or brush, like numerals indicating parts similar to those of the form previously described. ln said figures the brush is illustrated as positioned at the forward end of the reservoir (30', the latter being provided With a lip 80 for filling purposes. A similar filling opening may be provided in the form of Figs. )f--l if desired. The brush G4 is mounted at one end of a pivoted member or lever 81 fulcrumed as at 82 upon a cross bar 83 supported in opposed recesses Si, 85 formed in the side walls of the reservoir. The opposite end of said lever 81 has secured to it a weight 86. By means of said pivoted and weighted lever thebrush isi yieldingly urged upwardly normally into Contact with the lower`face of the stationary plate G7. As illustrated, said plate is in this form of my invention, secured to the removable cover 74 received on ribs upon the reservoir as in the form' previously described.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my invention includes in a moistening device one or more brushes having their lower portions submerged in the liquid of the reservoir and yieldingly supported with the moisture applying ends of their bristles above the level of the liquid and normally in contact with the adjacent face of a stationary guide member or plate between which and the bristles the strip to be moistened is passed. The brush is floated in the reservoir bymeans such as disclosed, whereby it may yield downwardly oraway from the plate to the required extent and the hairs or bristles of the brush may be flexed by the passing strip, the gummed surface of which will receive suliicient'm'oisture to cause itto'adhere satisfactor-ily `when applied. While yieldable and cooperating with a stationary guide member, the brush is prevented by suitable means' such as above described from being displaced from operative relation with said stationary member.

My invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments shown and described herein.

y Claims:

l. In a machine for serving and moistenin-g gummed strips, a support for a strip material supply, means to feed the strip material therefrom, strip severing means in the strip path near the delivery end thereof., a liquid-receiving reservoir supported outwardly of and in close proximity to said severing means, said reservoir having a top wall forming a guide and delivery table for the advancing strip, an inverted'brush moistener in the reservoir, said reservoir top wall being formed to permit the bristle or hair end of said brush to extend outwardly through it, a stationary plate immediately above said outwardly extending brush end, the edge of said-plate facing said severing means and the portion of the reservoir immediately below it being constructed and arranged positively to receive the advancing strip from the severing means and to guide it across the brush between the latter and the lower face of th plate, the opposite edge of said plate and the reservoir top wall adjacent it comprising delivery means for the moistened strip, and means wholly, within the reservoir urging said brush upwardly into strip moistening relation with the plate.

2. A device for moistening gummed strips including a reservoir, a brush therein having its hairs or bristles projecting upwardly above the level of the liquid, a guide plate overlying the upwardly projecting end of the brushto guide the strip across the latter, and a spring element comprising two oppositely and inwardly bowed leaf springs connected at their mid-length region and removably positioned in the reservoir 'below the brush 'lever at one side of the machine for engage-- ment at its free or outer end by the hand of the operator, said lever having a normally raised position and a depressed position at the end ofits feed. stroke, strip severing means in the strip path near the delivery end thereof, a liquid-receiving reservolr supported outwardly of and in proximity to said severing means and to said free end of the operating lever, said reservoir having at its upper portion a member forming a lower guide for the advancing strip, an inverted brush moistener in the reservoir with its bristles or hair end extending outwardly therefrom, a platevimmediately above said outwardly extending brush end, the portion of said plate ilnmediately forward of saidsevering means together with said guide member of the reservoir immediately below said plate portion being constructed and arranged positively to receive the advancing strip from the severing means and to guide it across the brush between the latter and the lower face of said plate to deliver the moistened strip at a position in close proximity to the hand of the operator as the latter releases said operating lever for return from r its depressed position to its raised position.

In a machine of the class described, in combination with a frame, strip supply supporting means, strip feeding means and strip severing means, a removable reservoir for a supply of moistening liquid, a brush in said .reservoir with the free or moisture applying ends of its bristles projecting above the liquid in position to contact the under face of the advanoing strip, a guide-plate on the reservoir.

' overlying the brush end, and adapted to guide a strip in moistening relation thereto from either d1rect1on, and means on theframe for supporting the reservoir in operative posi- Y tion, said means and said reservoir being constructed and arrangedl to provide for the 0perative positioning of the reservoir with either end foremost, selectively.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

TREVOR R. GAUTIER. 

